13 April, 2012

In the second of our blog series on health and safety, Philip Wilson looks at the dangers of working with electricity on farms…

Statistics tell us that contact with electricity continues to be one of the main causes of death to farmers and agricultural contractors in the UK and that nearly two thirds of these fatalities involve overhead power lines (OHPLs), according to the Health and Safety Executive. In Cornwall, there were two related fatalities last year and the HSE is now highlighting the issue when undertaking their inspections, so the subject is very topical.

In the UK, overhead lines carry voltages ranging from 230 (domestic voltage) to 400,000 volts and even 230 volts can produce 10,000 times more current than is needed to kill someone.

Before I tackle some of the main things you can do to reduce the risk of death or injury from electricity, it's worth highlighting that there is a specific legal duty on you under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 to take the right precautions.

The law clearly states that electrical equipment must be safe and properly maintained and that isolating the supply to equipment you are working on is recommended. The HSE says it's extremely unlikely that working on live systems will be justified, even if carried out by a competent person.

We recently had a presentation given to us by Dave Shepherd from Safety Cornwall during the farm safety day at Duchy College Stoke Climsland. I think everyone who listened to what Dave had to say and got involved in the practical demonstrations was shocked at just how easily an accident can happen.

I also met with Ian Davey, a farmer and Cornish Mutual Member from South East Cornwall who was electrocuted with 11,000 volts when his trailer tipped up and touched an OHPL. He was very lucky considering he broke his arm and dislocated his shoulder - he admits it could have been a lot worse.

Dave Shepherd gave some excellent advice to the groups that attended and I thought it would be a good idea to share this in the blog.

Firstly and perhaps most obviously, avoid contact with power lines by keeping tall machinery or long equipment, such as combines, sprayer booms, handlers, tipper vehicles, ladders and irrigation pipes, away from them at all times. Electricity can jump gaps and you don't even have to touch the line to get a shock. Getting close can cause a flashover that may kill or seriously harm.

Keep a safe clearance distance if you are building or stacking items near power lines, never work on top of farm machinery if you're under or near power lines and don't place ladders near OHPLs. The HSE has different minimum ground clearance distances, depending on the voltage - these range from 5.2 to 7 metres, so check carefully first before doing any work.

It's always a good idea to have a map of the OHPLs that run across your farmland, or indeed any land which you may be leasing - you can get copies of these from your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) i.e. Western Power Distribution (WPD). Make a note of where they run and how high they are, so you can plan to work around them. The HSE is now 'strongly advocating' to farmers that when undertaking a field risk assessment prior to starting work, you obtain an accurate measurement of the height of power lines in any fields where high-reach work equipment is to be used or operated. Make sure that contractors and workers also have copies and keep the DNO's contact details in your vehicles or with the equipment you're using.

Some other general pointers around electricity also include not assuming that electrical equipment is dead, even if the wires have fallen down or they appear broken. The same principle applies with wires on wooden poles - lots of people think these are just telephone wires and that's not always the case.

Things such as trees, string, ropes, suspension lines and water can all conduct electricity and wellington boots, rubber-soled shoes and gloves do not protect you. Electricity can also bypass wood, plastic and rubber and still cause lethal shocks.

If you're involved in excavation work on the farm, remember to keep well away from underground services, including cables. It is a legal requirement to check for underground power cables before you start any excavation work (as part of your risk assessment) and it's always a good idea to contact the utility companies before you start work to establish where they're located - and get someone who is experienced to help you.

If the worst happens and someone does accidentally make contact with an overhead or underground power line, disconnect the power source. If you can't do that, don't touch the person except with non-conducting items - never anything metallic.

Make contact with the DNO and get them to disconnect the power supply straight away. To prepare for this possible emergency, put the WPD number in your mobile phone now - 0800 365 900.  Do not attempt to dismount your vehicle until you have assurance from WPD that the supply has been isolated.  If you cannot contact WPD and if, as a last resort, you have to leave your vehicle, use the safe method of exit; with your feet together, stand on the step facing outwards and then jump away from the vehicle as far as possible before 'bunny hopping' away from the vehicle. Keep clear of the vehicle and warn others who may be nearby. Don't touch any vehicle or machinery attached to it until the DNO has confirmed the power is switched off. Remember, the power can be switched back on at any time, without warning.

Finally, make sure you and your farm workers receive adequate first aid training - you really never know when you might need it and it could mean the difference between life and death.

We have only scratched the surface in this blog entry and the HSE has a whole wealth of information on its website with plenty of downloadable guides. This link should provide you with everything you need when it comes to OHPLs and working safely around electricity http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg389.pdf. 

For more information about our 'FarmSafe' campaign, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafe